Playback.fm

What Playback.fm actually is

Give Playback.fm a date and it returns the record topping the charts that week, alongside playable charts for every year running back through the twentieth century. Country-by-country lists and a set of music quizzes sit next to the birthday tool.

Why it is worth your time

Working forward a year at a time through the charts of your own childhood is an unusually efficient way to trigger memories you were not looking for.

Common questions

Is Playback.fm free?

Yes. Playback.fm is free and does not ask you to register or hand over an email address before you can use it.

How long does Playback.fm take?

One quick round, then you can leave. We file it under "A minute" — the number one song on the day you were born.

Does Playback.fm work on a phone?

Yes. Playback.fm works on a phone as well as it does on a laptop.

What kind of site is Playback.fm?

We list it under Sound & Signal — music discovery that beats the algorithm. Working forward a year at a time through the charts of your own childhood is an unusually efficient way to trigger memories you were not looking for.